Chapter One: Visitor from Afar
Katara was telling a story to the younger kids of the village. It used to be Gran Gran's job, but Gran Gran was sleeping. And with Sokka out hunting, Katara was left to tell it.
"Long ago, the Four Aspect Nations lived together in harmony. But all of that changed when the Fire Nation attacked," said Katara, moving her hands. As she did, water emerged from the bowel she had at her feet, and she whirled it around as she practiced. She'd gotten a lot better, and only a few drops were falling off the sphere, though it was taking a lot of work. "Only the Avatar, the wielder of all Four Elements, could stop them. But when the world needed him most, he vanished.
"A hundred years have passed, and even now Father and the men of our tribe are-"
And then Sokka sprinted out of the snows, falling over the ice wall and landed. "Katara! Katara, get them ready to run, quick! Ships are coming!"
Katara looked up as the kids looked at one another. "Ships, the fire nation?!"
"I don't know, but you've got to get ready to run with the others if it is them!" said Sokka. "Remember, no bending!" Quickly he raced into their house and snatched up his spear before rushing out. "What are you standing around for?"
Katara looked out the direction Sokka had run and saw the ships. They were tall and proud, with white sails. Not at all like the metal steamships of the Fire Nation. Gazing out at them, she saw armored men, clad in gray at the prow.
They seemed to be heading for the shore.
"Sokka," said Katara. "That's not the flag of the Fire Nation. It's um... I think Dad showed us a flag from that."
"Lordaeron," said Sokka. "You, kids, get inside now. Tell Gran Gran and the others to stay low. We'll uh... we'll go to meet them."
"What are people from Lordaeron doing all the way up here North?" asked Katara, surprised.
"I don't know, but um... you don't think they mean to invade, do you?" asked Sokka. "I mean, I'm sure I could take them all myself. But...
"Nevermind."
That was so like Sokka. He was always trying to act tough, even when he wasn't fooling anyone. Sokka headed out toward where the ships were, and Katara walked with him. Brushing her brown hair behind her head, she stared at the people.
They weren't like any people Katara had ever seen before. At the prow was a boy about her age. His hair was long and blonde, and he wore a sword at his side. Yet it was straight, not curved like those of the Fire Nation.
Katara just hoped they weren't here to fight. These men were heavily armed, with a lot of weapons. If Sokka and Katara had to fight them...
Well, they might as well give up now.
Katara told herself that not everyone was like the Fire Nation.
Sokka and her took cover behind a snowbank and watched as the ship halted. Smaller boats were loaded and rowed over to the shore. The blonde boy stepped out onto the shore, and a howling wind went through his long hair. The other men were shivering or clutching their cloaks. Even Katara found herself ducking out of sight.
Yet the boy did not even shake.
"Prince Arthas, are you certain about this?" asked a man in gilded armor. How could anyone afford such a thing?
"Come on, Falric, I'm supposed to become a Paladin of the Silver Hand," said the boy. "I have to lead from the front sometime." So his name was Arthas, and he was a Prince? What was he doing out here?
"The lad's got a point, Captain," said a small but bulky man with a long, blonde beard. Was he a dwarf? Katara had heard of such creatures deeper inside Northrend but never seen one. This one had an axe and hammer on his back.
"Most paladins won't cause a succession crisis if they die, Prince Muradin," noted Falric.
At that moment, Sokka leaped over the ridge, and Katara went with him. "Hold where you are! This is the territory of the Water Tribe! I am Sokka, the son of the Chieftain Hakudo, and I um...
"Demand to know your business."
Katara expected Arthas to be scornful of Sokka. Given the power he had with him, they couldn't have appeared very impressive. Yet he nodded respectfully. "My apologies for the interruption, Prince Sokka. We're here to colonize this territory in our neverending thirst for conquest."
Katara blinked as he heard his friendly tone. Then his words registered.
"Well, don't expect to have it easily," said Sokka.
"Sokka, I think he was being sarcastic," said Katara.
"Lad, this is probably not the time," said Muradin behind her.
Arthas laughed, and Katara felt a bit annoyed. She had the feeling she was being made light of. "Very well, then. We're explorers, we're here to map the continent of Northrend, and we mean no harm to your people. We stopped here because we needed a guide, maps, and information about this continent.
"And we're more than willing to trade for one."
A guide? Well, they could provide that. "Trade what?"
"We have a great many different goods on board. It all depends on what you need, of course," said Arthas. "I'd like to speak to your Chieftain if you don't mind."
"Um, Dad isn't here right now," said Katara. "You'd better come with us back to the village. We can discuss things there."
"But no soldiers!" said Sokka.
"That seems reasonable. On one condition," said Arthas. "I want you to swear by the name of Malygos that no harm will come to me?"
Katara was surprised at the request. It was the highest oath a member of the Water Tribes could make. Sokka as well seemed taken aback. "...That's uh... a pretty hardcore oath?"
"Is it a problem?" asked Arthas, smiling.
"No, of course not. We're not like the Fire Nation!" said Katara quickly, feeling flustered by his gaze.
"I'm glad to hear it," said Arthas, clasping his sword in an under grip. "Muradin, I want you to do an analysis of the surrounding lands. Falric, set up our base camp here. I want defenses and scouts sent to the surrounding area."
"Hey, hang on, where do you get off making camp on our shores?" asked Soka.
"Do you think we can stop them, Sokka?" asked Katara quickly.
"Well..." Sokka shifted. "Quiet, Katara."
"You needn't fear. I will be with you in the camp," said Arthas quickly. "Should my men take any action against your people, you need only take me hostage.
"Their presence here is merely... ceremonial. A Prince of Lordaeron can't go ashore without some sort of escort."
"So how do you ever get any time to yourself?" asked Sokka.
"I don't," admitted Arthas.
Katara laughed before she could stop herself.
That was how Sokka ended up leading the Prince of Lordaeron toward the village. Katara wasn't sure what she was expecting from Arthas when he arrived. However, he seemed to be aware Sokka didn't trust him.
"So, tell me," said Arthas. "Prince Sokka, are you a hunter by trade?"
"Prince Sokka, sure," said Katara. "Don't feed his ego, Arthas."
"Hey, Katara, he's obviously observant," said Sokka. "And yes, I've been hunting for this entire village. Well, not really. I mean, we use nets on the shore. But I am responsible for teaching the kids to be warriors, and I hunt larger stuff."
"Any hunts of note?" asked Arthas.
"Well, this one time Katara and I went into the icebergs," said Sokka, never giving up a chance to talk about hunts. "We were hunting when this huge whale came out of nowhere, and we were nearly upset. I remember we ended up almost capsizing before Katara... um... steered us away.
"There have actually been a lot more whales in this region lately."
"Hmm, I always wanted to see a whale," said Arthas. "Don't dragons eat them?"
"Yeah, sometimes," said Sokka. "When you're that huge, I guess you need to eat huge as well."
"Have you ever spoken with a dragon?" asked Arthas.
"No, they mostly hang out with the Northern Water Tribe," said Sokka. "Though we saw one or two from afar."
"Ah," said Arthas. "We have a number of Red Dragons in Lordaeron, as well as some Black ones. Still, I'm afraid my experience seems a bit limited compared to yours. Any other stories?"
Sokka had a lot of other stories, of course, and Arthas asked a lot of questions. He seemed genuinely interested in them. What was this a guy thing? Except Arthas wasn't telling very much about himself at all. Just a bit of general info.
Once they got to the village itself, however, Arthas' gaze searched over the houses. More specifically, at the people looking out of them. He noted the children, women. "Tell me, where are the men of your village?" he asked suddenly.
"Um, Dad and most of our men are away at the moment fighting the Fire Nation," said Katara. "They left after... well, after the raid. It was becoming difficult for us to feed everyone. Meanwhile, the Fire Nation is just conquering everything."
"So, you have no standing forces?" asked Arthas, sounding very concerned.
"We have Lord Malygos' protection," said Katara. "Although we haven't seen a blue dragon in a long time. And... well... there isn't anything left to steal here. The Fire Nation took practically everything during their attack. These islands are isolated, and the Northern Water Tribe is strong enough to protect us."
"I'm sorry to hear it," said Arthas. "What contact do you have with the Northern Water Tribe?"
"None," said Katara. "When the Fire Nation attacked, they didn't send anyone to help us. They're way on the opposite side of the continent anyway. It's a dangerous journey."
"Lordaeron didn't do anything to help us, either," noted Sokka. Katara remembered Dad's lessons to them. "We offered you an alliance and everything." That had been before Dad had been Chieftain when there had been cities on these islands.
Katara wished she could have been there.
"We were fighting a war of our own," said Arthas. "I'm afraid that bloodshed is not limited merely to Northrend. Still, what would you say that your tribe here most needs at the moment?"
"Why do you ask?" asked Sokka, sounding a bit suspicious at all the questions.
"Humor me," said Arthas.
"We could use more cloth to protect against the cold, metal speak points for fishing and also..." said Katara, before halting at Sokka's look. Now Katara got it, Sokka thought they were giving out way too much information.
"Yes?" asked Arthas.
Who was Katara kidding? Arthas had given her a blank check in exchange for information. So they should take the offer while they had the chance. He could just as easily get the information from Ice Trolls or the Northern Water Tribe. Katara might as well as be honest.
"Well, I've heard Lordaeron has perfected dried rations that last years," said Katara.
"We have," said Arthas with a nod. "It was developed during the wars with the Amani Trolls. They aren't pleasant, but they keep. We use them during sieges and when supplies are short."
"Well, we could use some of those, too," said Katara quickly. "And, well um, also-" Sokka was facepalming now. "Also, any information Lordaeron has on water bending.
"Please."
Arthas frowned. "Hmm, waterbending?"
"Yes, um..." Katara paused. "You see, it's basically an extinct art by now. The Fire Nation tried to purge all of our waterbenders, and they... they succeeded." She couldn't let it get out that she was a waterbender. "We're hoping that some waterbenders might be restored eventually, but..."
"Yes?" asked Arthas.
"We need information on the art," said Katara. "If future generations are ever going to restore the art, we need to know how it worked."
"Well, I actually did pull up some information on the subject before I came here," said Arthas as if it was no big deal.
"You did?" asked Katara. How had he known?
"I like to be prepared," said Arthas, drawing up the case hanging from his side. Opening it, he drew out a scroll. "In fact, I have something here you might find useful."
Katara looked at the scroll and saw all kinds of designs upon it. They were images of a waterbender practicing. If she could imitate this, she could learn to actually get her training off the ground!
"What's this?" asked Katara.
"A copy of a scroll around which water bending revolves," said Arthas. "I brought it with me as a gift for the Chieftain of the Tribe here. Since you seem to have a use for it, I thought I'd get it for you."
"Wait, seriously?! This is amazing, I mean-" began Katara.
"Hang on, Katara, you can't start learning that stuff!" said Sokka flatly.
"Why not?!" asked Katara.
"I mean... don't you remember why the Fire Nation came here in the first place?" asked Sokka. "Why, Mom..."
Katara felt old anger bubbling up at that. "You don't know anything about it! Mom would... understand..."
"I take it waterbending is less of a lost art than you believed?" asked Arthas.
Katara realized he'd guessed far more than he'd let on and confirmed it just now. She found herself feeling awkward beneath his gaze and bit her lip. "I um...
"Well, I...
"Yes. My Mother took my place when the Fire Nation came for me. Please don't... please don't tell anyone about this. If it got out..."
"You don't need to be afraid," said Arthas. "My family are less than fond of the Fire Nation. In fact, Father and Fire Lord Ozai have hated one another for years. Once Ozai conquers the Earth Kingdom, the Alliance will have to deal with him."
"Wait, then why aren't you fighting him?" asked Sokka. "I mean, Dad and the men of our tribe are."
"We had attempted to make an alliance with the Earth King," said Arthas. "However, apparently, there is no war in Ba Sing Se."
"What's that supposed to mean?" asked Katara, curious. Had he really been to that legendary walled city?
"It's something they say there," said Arthas. "Father came for a personal meeting with the Earth King he was given a meeting with a man named Long Feng. The Earth King refused to see him.
"Father had been forced to dodge numerous Fire Nation ships. He'd been put in direct danger several times. For a Chieftain, perhaps such treatment would be forgivable. But a King of the Alliance is to be treated with as an equal or not at all. Refusing him was an unprecedented insult to Lordaeron and all our allies. And he nearly got killed on the way back.
"After that, we were less sympathetic to the Earth Kingdom."
"What?" asked Katara. "But... why would the Earth King refuse to see you! I mean... the Fire Nation is winning!"
"As far as we could tell, the Earth Kingdom simply refuses to acknowledge there is a problem," said Arthas. "People are forbidden to speak about the war within the bounds of Ba Sing Se. And outside the city, there are only wastelands of misery and hatred.
"Nobles live in opulent palaces, while people are starving on their doorstep.
"The average person in the Fire Nation colonies seems to be somewhat better off. So we're not sure they could run the Earth Nation any worse than it is already." It couldn't be that terrible, could it? "It's true; we had wanted to check the Fire Nation's growing power. But, we've been insulted and then refused a meeting. So we decided to focus elsewhere.
"In fact, that's part of the reason why I've come here."
"What do you mean?" asked Katara, not sure what was going on here.
"Well, the Fire Nation isn't slowing down," said Arthas. "So, here I am, in Northrend for two purposes. We're hoping to set up a port here, in which we can dock a fleet. If we can establish Naval Facilities, Lordaeron could control the seas.
"But, that's all very long term.
"In the immediate future, I think I can get you everything you asked for and more. As a token of goodwill."
Sokka narrowed his eyes at that, but Katara shrugged him off. "Thank you, Prince Arthas.
"Um, you mentioned that you were in training to become part of uh... a Silver Hand?"
"The Order of the Silver Hand," said Arthas. "An order of warrior monks. My mentor, Uther, founded them, and they are among the greatest heroes of the order. Their task is to defend the helpless, punish evildoers, and heal the pain of the suffering."
"So you're a monk?" asked Katara, eyeing his armor in surprise.
"Part-time, milady," said Arthas. "Sokka, you're a trained warrior, aren't you?"
"Um, yes," said Sokka.
"Care for a spar?" asked Arthas.
"Fine then," said Sokka. "But don't expect me to go easy on you."
"Oh, by all means," said Arthas, putting a hand to his sword. "Impress me."
Yeah, this was definitely a guy thing.